By The Diary
03 Sep 2024, 19:39 PM EDT
Former US President Donald Trump, who is seeking the presidency again in 2024, announced on Tuesday that he will plead not guilty to charges related to the assault on the Capitol that occurred on January 6, 2021.
In a statement to the District of Columbia Court, Trump expressed his decision not to personally attend the arraignment, authorizing his legal team to present his plea on his behalf.
Special prosecutor Jack Smith, who is in charge of the investigation into Trump, filed a new version of the indictment on August 27 that continues to point to four main charges, including conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding.
However, the revised act did water down some of the previous allegations, in line with the Supreme Court’s recent decision granting Trump partial immunity for his actions as president.
Smith’s investigation focuses on Trump’s actions before and during the assault on the Capitol, when thousands of his supporters marched on Congress in an attempt to prevent the certification of Joe Biden’s electoral victory.
Around 800 people managed to enter the building, triggering a violent confrontation that left five dead and dozens of police officers injured. Trump has maintained that his conduct was legitimate and that he is being unfairly targeted for political reasons, and recently said he had “every right” to interfere in the 2020 election.
Presidential immunity
The Supreme Court’s ruling, issued on July 1, granted Trump absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for decisions and actions within his constitutional functions, but made clear that this protection does not extend to acts that are not considered official.
As a result, Smith’s new indictment has been narrowed, excluding allegations about Trump’s attempts to influence the Justice Department to back his claims of election fraud.
Despite the adjustments, the case against Trump continues to move forward, with a next hearing scheduled for Thursday, where the prosecution and defense are expected to discuss the next steps in the process. This case is one of several facing the former president, who remains a polarizing figure in American politics.
With an eye toward the 2024 presidential election, Trump and his lawyers continue to maintain his innocence, claiming the allegations are part of an effort to disqualify him politically.
With information from EFE.
Continue reading:
• Trump denounces judicial “farce” after new accusation and points to Harris as responsible
• Trump was charged again in the election subversion case brought by Jack Smith
• Trump celebrates Supreme Court decision on his immunity: “victory for democracy”